Chapter 12
1506words
Fear made her hands tremble uncontrollably, but anger prevailed. She sat in her car for a full hour, letting tears flow freely until her makeup was completely ruined. Then, she made a decision.
If Ella wanted to play this game, she would play it to the end.
Two days later, Serafina mobilized all the Sterling Family's resources in the field of private investigation. She wanted to find all the secrets hidden behind the name Elira Vance, all the weaknesses, all the blemishes that could be exploited.
When the investigation report was placed before her, Serafina's lips curled into a malicious smile.
"Linda Vance." She gently stroked the photo on the file, "Ella's biological mother. An alcoholic with massive debts and a criminal record of violent tendencies."
More importantly, this woman was greedier than words could describe.
Serafina picked up the phone and dialed a number.
"I need you to arrange a meeting for me."
---
The annual Parents' Open Day at St. Mary's Academy was a grand event for the entire upper society.
I stood at the classroom door, watching those parents dressed in custom suits and high-end fashion streaming in. Bugattis, Maseratis, and Rolls-Royces formed a dazzling spectacle at the school entrance. The parents of these children were all social elites—investment bankers, multinational company CEOs, political figures, and art collectors.
Today I'm wearing a deep blue Armani suit, my hair elegantly styled in a low bun, pearl earrings gleaming with a soft luster in the sunlight. In front of these people, I must appear flawless.
"Mr. Vance." Emily's mother approached me, "Emily says your course has made her fall in love with literature. Thank you."
"The pleasure is mine, Mrs. Smith." I responded with a smile.
I was discussing the children's learning progress with several parents when suddenly I heard commotion coming from the hallway.
At first, I thought it was just activities from other classes. But the noise grew louder and closer.
"Ella! Where is Ella! I want to see my daughter!"
That voice struck my heart like lightning.
That voice. The voice I had been avoiding for eighteen years, the voice I least wanted to hear in my life.
Linda Vance. My mother.
The footsteps in the hallway grew closer, mixed with her drunken curses and the staff's attempts to dissuade her.
"Madam, please calm down, this is a school..."
"I don't care! I want to see my daughter! She owes me money! She owes me!"
The parents in the classroom began to whisper, all eyes turning toward the door. I felt my legs begin to tremble, but I struggled to maintain outward calm.
No, it's impossible. How could she find this place? How could she...
The door was violently pushed open.
Linda Vance stumbled in, followed by two security guards trying to stop her. Her hair was disheveled, she wore a tattered coat, and reeked of alcohol and tobacco. Her eyes were bloodshot, her cheeks swollen from alcoholism.
This was the woman who gave me life. This was the nightmare I had been trying to forget.
"Ella!" she pointed at me and screamed, "You ungrateful bitch!"
The entire classroom fell into dead silence.
All the parents stared at the scene in shock. Some covered their mouths, some pulled their children backward. I heard people whispering: "What's going on?" "Who is this woman?" "Mr. Vance's...?"
"Mom." My voice was as small as a mosquito's buzz, "What are you doing here?"
"What am I doing here?" Linda sneered as she walked toward me, "Did you think you could hide from me forever? Did you think you could abandon me and go live your high-society life?"
The security guards tried to stop her, but she broke free.
"I raised you! I gave you everything! And you?" she pointed at my nose, spittle flying, "The moment you got money, you forgot about your mother! You couldn't even bother to give me one phone call!"
"Please leave." I tried to keep my voice down, "This is my workplace, you're..."
"Place of work?" Linda let out a piercing laugh, "Look at her, everyone!" She turned to the dumbfounded parents, "Do you know where she comes from? She crawled out of the slums! Her father was a criminal who spent ten years in prison! When she was little, she stole things, told lies, and would do anything for a meal!"
"Shut up!" My voice finally erupted, but it was already too late.
The damage was done. I saw the expressions on the parents' faces change from shock to disgust and contempt. Several mothers quietly pulled their children away from the classroom.
"Shut up?" Linda continued to roar, "Now that you have money, you're ashamed of me? You wear designer clothes, live in a luxury apartment, yet you leave your own mother to die in a place that's like a garbage dump!"
She suddenly lunged at me, grabbing my arm. I could smell the strong odor of alcohol and sweat coming from her.
"Give me money! You owe me! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have become like this!"
"Please let go of me." My voice was trembling, but I tried to maintain my last shred of dignity.
"Let go of you?" Linda's nails dug into my skin, "You ruined my life! Do you know how difficult it was to raise you? Do you know what I sacrificed for you? And you? As soon as you became successful, you forgot about me!"
I felt everyone's eyes scrutinizing me, those parents who once treated me with respect and courtesy, now with contempt and suspicion in their eyes.
This was Seraphina's revenge. She had found my most painful weakness and was tearing me apart in the cruelest way.
My legs began to weaken, my vision blurred. Everything I had worked to build over eighteen years—my identity, my status, my dignity—all crumbled in this moment.
"Parents, I am very sorry..." I tried to defend myself, but my voice was shaking terribly.
"Sorry?" Linda let out a sharp laugh, "You say sorry to me! You ungrateful wretch! You thankless..."
She raised her hand to hit me, and I instinctively flinched.
Just then, a familiar voice spoke up.
"Enough."
Julian emerged from the crowd. He was wearing an elegant three-piece suit, his expression stern, with flames of anger burning in his eyes.
"And you are?" Linda looked at him drunkenly.
Julian didn't answer her, but walked straight to me instead. He took off his suit jacket and gently draped it over my trembling shoulders.
"It's alright now," he said softly to me, then turned to Linda, "Madam, I suggest you leave immediately."
"Who are you to order me around?" Linda shouted, "She's my daughter!"
"Is that so?" Julian's voice was cold as ice, "A real mother wouldn't humiliate her daughter in a setting like this."
He gestured to the security guards, and two of them immediately stepped forward.
"Please escort this lady out. If she harasses Mr. Vance again, call the police."
Linda tried to struggle, but Julian's intimidating presence made her involuntarily step back.
"This isn't over!" she screamed as she was dragged out of the classroom. "Ella, you'll regret this! You'll pay for your ingratitude!"
The door closed, and the classroom fell silent again, but the silence was more suffocating than the previous commotion.
Julian turned around to face the parents who were still whispering among themselves. His gaze swept across each person, and his authority and intimidating presence silenced everyone.
"Ladies and gentlemen," his voice was clear and powerful, "I believe you have all witnessed Mr. Vance's professionalism. Even when faced with such difficult personal circumstances, she still chooses to dedicate her energy to education, to your children."
He placed his hand gently on my shoulder, and that supportive gesture nearly brought me to tears.
"Regarding the accusations from the lady just now, I believe there is no need to respond. A person's background does not represent their character, and one's past does not define their present. Mr. Vance is one of the finest educators I have ever met, and your children are fortunate to have her guidance."
After speaking, he nodded slightly to the parents, then said softly to me: "Let's go."
I followed Julian out of the classroom and down the long corridor. My legs were still trembling, with Julian's coat wrapped around me, carrying his body warmth and the faint scent of cologne.
Only after walking out of the school gates did I realize I had been crying the entire time.
"Julian..." my voice choked.
"Shh." He stopped and turned to gently stroke my cheek. "You don't need to say anything."
His thumb tenderly wiped away the tears on my face, his eyes filled with concern and anger.
"She hurt you." This wasn't a question, but a statement.
I nodded, unable to speak.
"Well," Julian's voice became dangerous and low, "it's time to let them know that hurting you comes with a price."
